Snap fastener member



April 15. 1941. w. H. CHURCHILL SNAP FASTENER MEMBER Filed May 12, 1938 5 SheetsSheet 1 Inv 222-2671 Wmerl-Z murdn'ZZ. y

April 15, 1941- w. H. CHURCHILL 2,238,856

SNAP FASTENER MEMBER Filed May 12, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 22230731502"; Mr H Cant-021%.

3/ zzfvzvf April 1941- w. H. CHURCHILL 2,238,856

SNAP FASTENER MEMBER Filed May 12, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 E i 2&6 24- 22 2 26 I n veniorx Wmerli murcivilz.

Patented Apr. 15, 1941 SNAP FASTENEB MELIBEB Wilmer H. Churchill, Saugua, Mala, assignor to I United-Carr Fastener Corporation,

Massachulet Mala, a c p ration of Application May 12, 1938, Serial No. 201,540

15 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in snap fasteners and a method of making said fasteners.

Referring to the drawings, in which I have illustrated preferred embodiments of my invention:

Fig. i is a sectional view showing the manner in which an upholstery panel may be secured to a support by means of one of my improved fastener members shown in side elevation Fig. 2 is an enlarged front view of my first form of fastener member per se;

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of my first form of fastener member per se;

Fig. 4 is a rear view of my first form of fastener member per se;

Fig. 5 is a side view of my first form of fastener member per se; i

Fig. 6 is a top view of my first form of fastener member per se;

Fig. 7 is a side view of my second form of fastener member per se;

Fig. 8 is a front view of my second form of fastener member per se;

Fig. 9 is a rear view of my second form of fastener member per se;

Fig. 10 is a top view of my second form of fastener member per se;

Figs. 11 and 12 represent rear and top views respectively of my second form of fastener member per se showing the use of stiffening ribs for strengthening a portion of the fastener;

Fig. 13 is a side view of my third form of fastener member per se;

Fig. 14 is a front view of my third form of fastener member per se;

Fig. 15 is a rear view of my third form of fastener member per se;

Fig. 16 is a top view of my third form of fastener member per se;

Figs. 17, 18, 19 and 20 are plan and edge views of a blank showing successive operations upon .the same in forming one form of my fastener device shown in Cambridge, i

is adaptable particularly to securing trim panel installationsand the like to the body of an auto-. mobile. It is understood, however, that my improved fastener members are capable of satisfactory use with other installations than the one specifically illustrated and that the base may take any desired shape. The trimming installation shown in Fig. 1 includes a backing l of cardboard or the like material covered on its exposed surface by flexible material 2, such as cloth or the like. The trimming installation is secured to a support 8, which may be the frame of a door of an automobile, by a snap fastener member 4.

piece of sheet metal. My preferred form of fastener member 4 has a base portion 6 and a stud portion 1 extending in substantially angular relation to the base portion. The base portion 6, in my preferred form, has an inner arm 8 and an outer arm 0 connected at their ends by a bight i0. Thus the base portion 6, which is constructed similarly, except for minor and unimportant changes, in each of the illustrated forms of my improved fastener members, is substantially'U-shaped (Fig. 5) so as to engage opposed sides of the backing I of the upholstery panel, as shown in Fig. 1. The stud portion 1 of my first form of fastener member extends from an end of the inner arm 8 opposed to the bight II] in substantially perpendicular relation to the base portion, as most clearly shown in Fig. 5. The stud portion base. pair of yieldable socket-engaging portions Ii and I! which are joined to the base, in my preferred form. by connecting portions l3-l3 (Figs. 2 and 4) The socket-engaging portions H and I 2 are joined together at their ends opposed to the base portion 6 forming a nose ll. In order that the stud portion may enter into snap fastener engagement with the frame 3 through the aperture 5, the socketengaging portions II and I! have outer sides II and II respectively, each of which is wider than the thickness 01' the respective socket-engaging portion. The sides H and I2 diverge from the nose It toward the base 6 and then converge providing shoulders iS-IS for engagement behind an opposite surface of a portion of the frame 4 from that upon which the upholstery panel is disposed. It should be noticed that an opening It is provided in my fastener member adjacent the socket-engaging portions II and I2 of the stud portion which extends from the nose \I4 into the base 8 of the fastener member and through the inner arm I, the bight l0, and into the outer arm 2 thereof. The opening I8 preferably terminates substantially short of the outermost end I of the outer arm 2 of the base (Figs. 3 and 6) with the result that they peripheral edges of the fastener member completely enclose the opening. The opening It serves to increase the yieldability of the socket-engaging portions Ill and I2 so as to enable them to move toward and away from each other in direct opposite relation during engagement thereof with the frame 4 through the aperture 5, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. The planes of the outer sides II and I2 extend in substantially perpendicular relation to the connecting portions Il-II, as most clearly shown in Fig. 2, and the socket-engaging portions I I and I2 extend from the connecting portions I3-I3 in a direction away from the blght I II of the base portion, as shown in Fig. 5. Thus by my invention the stud portion is constructed in a new and original way so as to engage the broad surfaces of the socketengasing portions thereof with the wall of the aperture I of' the supporting frame.

My second form of fastener member, illustrated in Figs. 7-11, is similar in its main features to my first form of fastener, but differs slightly from my first form of fastener in that in place of the socket-engaging portions II and I2, I have provided socket-engaging portions I6-I 8 which extend from the connecting portions I3-I3 toward the bight II of the base portion-8 instead of away from the bight portion in the manner of the socket-engaging portions of my first form of fastener member. As a result of this construc- .tion, the socket-engaging portions I 6'I8' of my second form of fastener member offer greater resistance to being bent out of normal shape during insertion thereof through the aperture of a frame than the socket-engaging portions of my first form of fastener.

In Figs. 11 and 12 I have shown views of my second form of fastener member with ribs I 1I 1 struck from the base portion 6 on opposite sides of the opening IS. The ribs I1-I1 have for their main object to strengthen the base portion and to increase the resiliency of the arms 8 and 9 of the base with the result that the ends of the arms 8 and 8 opposed to the bight III. which may be normally a lesser distance apart than the thickness of the backing I or the like, may grip opposed sides of the backing under slight spring tension so as to aid to maintain the base in fixed position relative to the backing.

My third form of fastener member, illustrated in Figs. 13-16, is similar in form to my second form of fastener member illustrated in Figs. 7-11, but instead of providing socket-engaging portions I8'-I6' connected at their outermost ends in the manner of my second form of fastener member, I have provided socket-engaging portions I8-I 8 which are non-integral at their leading ends I9-I9. The socket-engaging portions I8I8 have outer sides I8'I8' which are of greater width than the thickness of the respective socket-engaging portions. The sides I8'-l8' diverge from the leading ends I 9I 9 of the socket-engaging portions and then converge so as to provide shoulders 20'-20'. The planes of the side portions I 8'-I 8 of the socket-engaging portions extend in substantially perpendicular relation to the normal planes of the connecting nor-- tions IJ-II and the socket-engaging portions I8-I I extend from the connecting portions pref erably in the direction of the bight III of the base portion. The arm 8 of the base portion of my third form of fastener has an opening 20 (Fig. 16) extending into the same from where the connecting portions I 3I 3 project from the arm and terminating short of the bight III. The opening 20, though shorter than the opening I6 of the other forms, may be of suificient length to impart proper yieldability to the socket-engaging portions Il-Ii, which are non-integral at their free ends I8--I9.

In Figs. 17-24 I have shown apreferred succession of operations performed on a metal blank during the formation of a fastener member such as that illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12.

In Fig. 17 I have shown a preferred blank 2I of flat elongated shape having a tail portion 22 and a head portion 23 at one end of the tail portion. The head portion has peripheral edges 24-24 diverging from its outermost end 25 and then converging. Portions of the head portion 23 are preferably wider than the tall 22, as shown in the drawings. Notchcs 26 may be formed in opposed peripheral edges of the blank adjacent the Junction of the tail portion with the head portion so as to facilitate bending of the head portion relative to the tail portion, which will be described.

In Fig. 18 I have shown the first operation upon the blank which comprises bending up the marginal edges'of the head portions so as to form portions 21-21 around the peripheral edge of the head portion which form the socket-engaging portions of the completed fastener. The portions 21-21 have outer broad surfaces 21'21', the planes of which extend in substantially perpendicular relation to the normal plane of the blank. Each of the sides 21' is shouldered as at 28 as a result of the diverging and converging construction of the peripheral edges of the head portion of the original blank.

In Fig. 19 I have shown the next successive operation which comprises cutting out the material of the blank withi: the bent-up edges 21 of the head portion so as to form a relatively large opening 29 in the .head portion lying entirely within the peripheral edges thereof. The large opening 29 preferably tapers into a narrow prolongation 29 which extends into the tail 22 of the blank and terminates short of the outermos free end 30' of the tail thereby enabling the be rt-up edge portions 2121 to be yieldable ore toanother.

In the next step, illustrated in Fig. 20, stiffening ribs 3I-4l may be formed in the tail 22 of the blank on opposed sides of the narrow opening 29' and extending beyond the end of the opening 29' toward the free end 30 of the tail so as to increase the strength and resiliency of the base portion of the completed fastener.

In the next step, illustrated in Figs. 21 and 22, the head portion is bent substantially along the dotted line 32 of Fig. 20 so as to form a substantially obtuse angle with the normal plane of the Y of the tail form the inner and outer arms of the hook-shaped base portion of the completed fastener.

In Fig. 23 the head portion of the blank has been straightened so as to extend in substantially perpendicular relation to the hook-shaped base portion.

Fig. 24, which illustrates the completed fas-- tener. shows the manner in which the outermost" end of the outer arm II of the base portion may be bent toward the inner arm so as to grip a trim panel or the like between them under spring tension.

The fastener member I have described is simple,

strong, and capable of satisfactory use in connection with securing trim panels and the like to a support. The method I have invented for making the fastener member is novel and easily and inexpensively performed. I

In reference to my preferred forms of invention illustrated and described, I am aware that changes and alterations may be made in the fastener members per se. particularly as regards the construction of the base portion, as in adapting the fastener member for assembly with various forms of trim panels and the like. aware that the described steps for making the fastener member may be changed or modified and steps added or omitted without departing from the scope and spirit of my invention. For that reason I do not wish to be limited to the preferred forms of my invention or the preferred method of making "the same as illustrated and described since the spirit of my invention is best defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A fastener member formed from a single piece of sheetmetal, said fastener member'having a base portion, and a snap fastener stud portion extending in angular relation to said base portion, said stud portion comprising a pair of opposed yieldable socket-engaging portions and connecting portions joining said socket-engaging portions to said base portion, said socket-engaging portions having diverging and converging outer sides for snap fastener engagement with a socket member, said sides being broader than the thickness of the metal thereof and the planes of said sides being substantially perpendicular to the planes of said respective connecting portions.

2. A fastener member formed from a single piece of sheet metal, said fastener member having a hook-like base portion, and a snap fastener stud portion extending in angular relation to said base portion, said stud portion comprising a pair of opposed yieldable socket-engaging portions and connecting portions joining said socket.-

engaging portions to said base portion, said. socket-engaging portions having diverging and converging outer sides for snap fastener eng ement with a socket member, said sides being broader than the thickness of the metal thereof and the planes of said sides being substantially perpendicular to the respective planes of sai connecting portions. 3. A fastener member formed from a single piece of sheet metal, said fastener member having a base portion, and a snap fastener stud portion extending in angular relation to said base portion, said stud portion comprising a pair of opposed yieldable socket-engaging portions and connecting portions joining said socket-engaging portions to said base portion, said socket-engaging portions having diverging and converging Also, I am outer sides for snap fastener engagement with a socket member, said sides being broader than the thickness of the metal thereof and the planes of said sides being substantially perpendicular to the respective planes of said connecting portions, and said base portion having an opening adjacent to where the stud portion extends therefrom to permit said socket-engaging portions to move toward each other in face-to-face manner.

4. A fastener member formed from a single piece of sheet metal, said fastener member having a relatively wide U-shaped base portion and a snap fastener stud portion extending in angular relation to said base portion, connecting means of less width than said base portion for joining said base and stud portion, said fastener member having an opening extending from said stud portion into said base portion, and the peripheral edges of said fastener completely and continuously surrounding said opening.

5. A fastener stud member formed from a single piece of sheet metal. said fastener member having a relatively wide U-shaped base portion and a snap fastener stud portion extending from said base portion, said fastener member having an opening extending into both the stud portion and the base portion to provide resiliency to said stud portion, said opening terminating short of the periphery of both said portions thereby hav-' ing a continuous unbroken portion completely around said opening, the overall width of the stud member being less than the width of the base portion.

6. A fastener member formed from a single piece of sheet metal, said fastener member having a relatively wide U-shaped base portion and a snap fastener stud portion extending from said base portion in angular relation thereto, said stud portion having a pair of opposed yieldable socket-engaging portions joined together at their ends most remote from said base portion to form a nose, said socket-engaging portions diverging from said nose and then converging, the overall width of said stud at the outer divergent points of the arms being less than the width of the base, and said fastener member having an opening extending from within the peripheral edge of said stud portion at said nose into said base portion and terminating short of the peripheral edges of said base portion.

'7. A fastener member formed from a single piece of sheet metal, said fastener having a base portion comprising an inner and outer arm connected by a bight, a snap fastener stud portion extending from said upper arm in angular relation thereto, said stud portion having a pair of opposed yieldable socket-engaging portions joined together at their ends most remote from said inner arm forming a nose, said socket-engaging portions diverging from said nose and then converging, and said fastener member having an opening extending from within the peripheral edge of said stud portion at said nose through the inner 'arm and bight of said base portion and terminating short of the peripheral edge of the outer arm of said base portion at the free end thereof.

8. A fastener member formed from a single piece of sheet metal, said fastener member having a base portion and a snap fastener stud portion extending from an end of said base portion in angular relation to said base, said stud portion comprising a pair of opposed yieldable socket-engaging portions joined at their ends away from said base portion and connecting portions joining said socket-engaging portions to said base portion, said socket-engaging portions having'diverging and converging sides for snap fastener engagement with a socket member, said sides being broader than the thickness of the metal thereof, and the planes of said sides being substantially perpendicular to the respective planes of said connecting portions.

9. A fastener member formed from a single piece of sheet metal, said fastener having a base portion comprising an inner and an outer arm connected by a bight, a snap fastener stud portion extending from said inner arm in angular relation thereto at an end of said arm opposite said bight, said stud portion comprising a pair of opposed yieldable socket-engaging portions having diverging and converging outer sides for snap fastener engagement with a socket member, said sides being broader than the thickness of the metal thereof and the planes of said sides being substantially parallel with the lateral edges of said inner arm between the end of said arm from which said stud portion extends and said bight.

10. A fastener member formed from a single piece of metal, said fastener having a base portion comprising an inner and an outer arm connected by a bight, a snap fastener stud portion extending from said inner arm in angular-relation thereto at an end of said arm opposite said bight, said stud portion comprising a pair of opposed yieldable socket-engaging portions and connecting portions joining said socket-engaging portions to said base portion, said socket-engaging portions having diverging and converging outer sides for snap fastener engagement with a socket member, said sides being broader than the thickness: of the metal thereof and said sides extending from said connecting portions i-i angular relation thereto in a direction away from the bight of said base portion.

11. A fastener member formed from a single piece of metal, said fastener having a base portion comprising an inner and an outer arm connected by a bight, a snap fastener stud portion extending from said inner arm in angular relation' thereto at an end of said arm opposite said bight, said stud portion comprising a pair of opposed yieldable socket-engaging portions and connecting portions joining said socket-engaging portions to said base portion, said socket-engaging portions having diverging and converging outer sides for snap fastener engagement with a socket member, said sides being broader than the thickness of the metal thereof, and said sides extending from said connecting portions in anguiar relation thereto in a direction toward the bight of said base portion.

12'. A fastener member formed from a single piece of sheet metal, said fastener having a base portion comprising an inner and outer arm connected by a bight, a. snap fastener stud portion extending from said inner arm in angular relation thereto, said stud portion having a pair of opposed yieldable socket-engaging portions joined together at their ends most remote from said inner arm forming a closed nose, said socket-engaging portions diverging from said nose and then conver in means located within and spaced from the outer edges of said inner arm for con-,

necting said socket-engaging portions to said arm, and said fastener member having an opening extending from within the peripheral edge of said stud portion at said nose into said upper arm so as to render said socket-engaging Portions yieldable.

13. A fastener member cut from a single blank of sheet metal comprising a base portion having outer and inner arms disposed in substantially parallel planes, connected at one end by a bight, and presenting relatively broad spaced bearing surfaces for engagement with an article to be supported, a snap fastener stud portion integral with the inner arm and extending substantially at right angles thereto, said stud portion having yieldable socket-engaging sides converging toward a closed nose remote from said base, the metal forming a part of the stud portion being in continuation of the inner bearing surface of the base and connected thereto by a flat sharp nonspiral bend providing a sharp angular connection between the base and stud member.

14. A fastener member out from a single blank of sheet metal comprising a base portion having outer and inner arms disposed in substantially parallel planes connected at one end by a bight, and presenting relatively broad spaced bearing surfaces for engagement with an article to be supported, a snap fastener stud portion integral with the inner arm and extending substantially at right angles thereto, said stud portion having horizontally and vertically disposedportions, the latter including yieldable socket-engaging converging sides joined in a continuous line at the outer end of the stud to form a smooth entering nose, the horizontally disposed portions of the stud member being in continuation of the inner base arm and connected thereto by a flat relatively sharp non-spiral bend.

15. A fastener member cut from a single blank of sheet metal comprising a base portion, a snap fastener stud portion integral with the base portion and extending substantially at right angles thereto, said stud portion including a flat surface portion in continuation of said base portion and yieldable socket-engaging converging sides disposed substantially perpendicularly to said flat surface portion and joined in a continuous line at the outer end of the stud to form a smooth entering nose.

WILMER H. CHURCHILL. 

